h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi Solnushka,

I'm just subbing Gnomon's Entry about the double bass. In the PR thread you said something about a very special way to produce low notes by somehow 'faking' them. Can you explain that to me? I have talked to some orchestra musicians who had never heared of such a thing (nor have I) so I'm somehow unsure whether this is a really solid information or a musical 'urban legend'.

Please don't get me wrong: I do not doubt what you said, I just don't quite understand it.

Jeremy FS JBB

This is a bass thing, probably only needed by basses, brought about because, as Gnomon says, the bass has to double cello lines and the cello and bass have different set ups and composers will write notes that don't occur on a standard bass. The options, as G says again, are to have a five string bass or an extension, but these are things which only proffessional bassists bother with. Failing tjhat, and most amatuers like me do, you can tune down (really not reccommended as my bass for one isn't the same for days afterwards) or ignore the notation and play the notes (which probably occur but once or twice in such a piece)an octave highr. Or....

I learnt this trick from my bass tutor when I was playing in a county youth orchestra. None of us had extensions or five string basses (there were six of us) and I believe we were arguing a bit pathetically about whether to tune down or say the hell with it. This chap suggested this other method. Say you have to play a low D (the bass's lowest string is an E) out of us six 4/5 played the D an octave higher, and 1 or 2 (I forget) played a note which was either a fourth or a fith or a third below (I'll try and check it out). For a D I thoink it was a G and for a C I think it was an A, but as I say I can't remember exactly. I'll get on to one of my old partners in crime and see what he says. You might be in for a long wait.

Does it work? Now there I have no idea, as it sounds somewhat discordant close up: the whole point was that _at a distance_ it sounds like the section is playing the low note written. I always assumed this was something to do with physics and sound waves myself, but there you are. It is certainly not bothering with unless the note is particularly prominant and fruity. We did do it though, but not very often, because, as I say, sometimes there was no way anyone would have noticed (twiddly bits).

The only reason why I mention it is because of the chap who taught it to us. He was Robin McGee who at that time was head of strings at one of the London music colleges (not Guildhall. The Royal London something or other? Can't rememnber) and had a wealth of proffessional orchestral experience behind him. He used to teach us all sorts of little tricks like that when we were faced with twiddly bits we weren't up to/weird demands by composers who think we are cellists/the problem that the composer has written a part for at least 10 of us (believe me, 6 is a good number for a non prof. orchestra. Usually there's 2 of you max. The word 'piano' is not in your vocab)/how to beat the other instruments at their glory hogging game. As well as actually teaching us how to play, of course. Anyway, the point is that I am therefore inclined to believe he knew what he was talking about, but no offence taken! I hope I'm not going to get drummed out of the secret masonic lodge of bass players for revealing the tricks of the trade, though.

Thanks for your feedback, Solnushka.

I still can't quite believe it. What I first had thought of was the very same effect that you have when you are tuning the bass using the harmonics. Nice for tuning, but hardly controllable in a musical context.

I tried to get some experts' opinions: None of the bassists of our local theater orchestra (it's only a small orchestra, but the players have all studied their instruments) had ever heard of such a thing, and they said that almost all of them prefer to use 5-string basses for the deep notes.

I contacted the contrabass players of the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra (one of the best orchestra's in the world; it's players' technical abilities are beyond the shadow of any doubt). So far I haven't got feedback from all of them, but those whom I talked to said that they all use 5-string basses (except for some chamber music), so there's no need to 'fake' notes.

If I find out something new I'll keep you informed.

The whole thing sounds just so ... weird.

Sorry for my skepicism ... Like you, I'm inclined to believe that Robin McGee knew what he was talking about, I just haven't found anybody to verify that information so far. It is definitely not common practice (but what on earth is )

Anyway, I have left that bit in the Entry, but I'll keep on searching for some additional verification.

Jeremy

well, this is it see! proff bassists have no need to do it cos they all have extensions ot 5 strings. I had a shifty at the entry, and G seems to have explained it very well, I thought. He seems to understand it even if I don't! To be fair though, it really can't be veruy common at all.